Lesson 7 · Lesson guide
Reading: True / False / Not Given — Harder Paraphrases
Hello, my dear student!
Hello! At Core level you learned the method: find, compare, decide. At band 6 and above, the method stays the same, but the paraphrases get harder.
IELTS no longer just swaps a word for a synonym. It changes the structure: an active verb becomes a passive noun phrase, a positive becomes a double negative, “researchers suspect” becomes “it has been proven”. It mixes facts with plans and predictions. And it tests tiny words of certainty: may, suggests, most, usually.
Today you will learn to see the same meaning behind a different structure, to notice when the text is cautious and the statement is certain, and to separate what has happened from what is only planned, claimed or predicted.
See you in the exercises,Your teacher
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Same meaning, new structure
At this level, look past the words to the meaning. These four changes are the most common.
Structure
Active ↔ passive, verb ↔ noun
“The government reduced fees” = “Fees were reduced by the government” = “There was a reduction in fees.”
- Scientists discovered the virus in 1983. = The discovery of the virus was made in 1983.
Negatives
not un-, few, hardly
“not uncommon” = fairly common. “Few” = almost none. “A few” = some. “Hardly any” = almost none.
- It is not unusual for students to work. = Many students work.
Certainty
may, suggests, believes ≠ proves, will
If the text says the evidence is unclear and the statement says it is proven → FALSE.
- Text: “This has not yet been proven.” Statement: “This has been proven.” → FALSE
Time
plans and predictions ≠ facts
“The city plans to open a library next year” means it has not opened yet.
- Text: “plans to build”. Statement: “has built” → FALSE
Remember!
Ask: who did what, how certain is it, and has it really happened?
Traps at band 6
Not: Text: “Few students passed.” Statement: “Some students passed.” → FALSESay: → TRUE (few still means some, but not many). Compare: “Most students passed” → FALSE.
Few = a small number, not zero.
Not: Text: “Some schools have banned phones.” Statement: “Most schools have banned phones.” → FALSESay: → NOT GIVEN. Some does not tell us whether it is most or not.
Some ≠ all (FALSE), but some does not contradict most.
Not: Text: “The museum will reopen in May.” Statement: “The museum reopened in May.” → TRUESay: → FALSE. The text is about the future; the statement says it has happened.
A plan is not a fact.
Check yourself
Text: “It is not uncommon for adults to return to university.” Statement: “Adults rarely return to university.”
Text: “The college is considering a four-day week.” Statement: “The college has introduced a four-day week.”
Now it’s your turn!
8 short parts, each a little harder than the one before. Take your time: mistakes are how we learn.
— Your teacher